Listmom Anne, this is for you. You are the glue holding our group together. Crazy glue, mind you, but we partiers aren't picky . This series is also dedicated to Noon, the archiver behind the writer.

"What's going on, Doctor?" [Captain Janeway strides into the medical bay trying to take in the situation at one glance]

"Mr. Paris refuses to let me treat him until I deal with Ensign Kim." [EMH is glowering]

"Why's that a problem? Treat Mr. Kim."

"Captain, don't be fooled by Mr. Paris' pose. He is not just leaning on the biobed. That is the only thing holding him up. He is in need of urgent medical care."

"Ha...Harry...stay with me buddy." [pilot doesn't seem to hear the low-voiced conversation]

"Mr. Paris, get up on that bio-bed now." [at the captain's words, a triumphant smirk slides over the EMH's face, obliterating concern for a moment]

[Blond pilot resists the order for a moment, but ingrained in him is the instinct to obey his captain. Reluctantly, he eases onto the flat surface next to his spouse.]

"Captain, will you monitor Mr. Kim's vitals please?" [EMH points to the correct console while fussing with a tray of hyposprays] "If this level goes above forty-five, call me." [doctor calibrates hypospray to deliver correct dosage] "This should lower Mr. Kim's toxic levels. When I am finished with Mr. Paris, I plan to flush out the ensign's system. But for now, a delivery awaits."

[EMH moves to the stubborn pilot who is still not lying flat on the biobed, although he is gripping the edge of it tightly] "How is he doing, Doc?"

"Better than you, Mr. Paris. His condition is treatable, but yours is immediate. If we don't get those young ones out, they will enter distress, then my six months of work will be for nothing."

[EMH selects another hypospray and injects the pilot. He sets up a sterile field, wheeling three small basinets close. Checking his instrument tray he picks up a microlaser. He gives the captain an inquiring glance and she nods in agreement.]

"Still stable here."

"Then let's begin, shall we?"

[finally tearing his attention away from his spouse, the supine man grips the EMH's hand closest to him, the one holding the laser] "Doc, I don't care about me, save the babies...they're more important, ok...for Harry."

The End

Continued in Parenting 401